Using the MPLAB® X IDE Main Toolbar

The main toolbar is located below the Main Menu near the top of the MPLAB^® X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) user interface. The toolbar provides shortcuts for executing IDE functions, displaying project status, and links to online help and the Microchip store.

At installation, the toolbar is populated with a preset selection of icons. The toolbar is fully configurable by the user. 

Toolbar Groups

The icons on the toolbar are placed into groups.  From the View Menu (View > Toolbar) you will be able to select the icon groups appearing on the toolbar.

You can add or remove groups using the checkboxes in the View Menu.

Toolbar Icons and Definitions

Icon	Name	Keyboard	Menu	Description
	New File		File > New File…	Creates a new file with the New File wizard.
	New Project		File > New Project…	Creates a new project with the New Project wizard.
	Open Project		File > Open Project…	Creates a new file with the New File wizard.
	Save All		File > Save All	Creates a new file with the New File wizard.
	Undo		Edit > Undo	Creates a new file with the New File wizard.
	Redo		Edit > Redo	Reverses (one at a time) a series of Undo commands.
	Set Project Configuration			Selects project configuration. Choose “default” or “Customize”. By default, this will show default. However, if you create a new configuration, its name will show up here as well allowing you to rapidly switch between multiple configurations. For example, one configuration may use the ICD3 and another the simulator.
	Build Project		Run > Build Project	Builds the project using the compiler/assembler selected in the Project Properties. The Build command in MPLAB X is roughly equivalent to the Make command in MPLAB 8. The make utility will build only the files in the project that have changed since the last build. Click on the down arrow for other related options.
	Clean and Build Project		Run > Clean and Build Project	Deletes files from previous builds and then builds all project files. Click on the down arrow for other related options.
	Make and Program Target Project			Builds project in release mode then programs the PIC® Microcontroller. Click on the down arrow for other related options.
	Read Device Memory			Reads target device memory and loads into MPLAB X IDE. Click on the down arrow for other related options.
	Hold in Reset			Unlike the other toolbar buttons, this is a toggle switch. When it is pressed, it will assert the reset line to prevent the target from running. This button is most useful in conjunction with the Program Target button. After programming the target, Hold in Reset may be used to release the target board to run without having to disconnect the programmer.
	Debug Project		Debug > Debug Project (Name)	Builds the project in debug mode (links in the debug executive), programs the target, and runs the ­project on the target using the debugger selected in the project properties.
	Program Counter			Shows the current value of the Program Counter when a debug session is running. These may be visible even when a debug session is not active.
	Status Bits			Shows the current value of the Status bits when a debug session is running. These may be visible even when a debug session is not active